Self-winding watch



Feb. 28, 1933. M. REINER SELF WINDING WATCH Filed Dec. 11, 1929 TEE.E-

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Patented F eb. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAX BEINEB, O1BRONX, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

PERPETUAL SELF WINDING WATCH CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORA-'I'ION O1 DELAWARE SELF-WINDING warren Application filed December 11,1929. Serial No. 418,170.

This invention relates to watches and more especially to watchesequipped with means for effecting winding of the main spring uponmovement of the watch.

An object of this invention is a self-winding watch provided withimproved and etlicient means for efi'ecting winding of the main springupon movement of the watch and preventing overwinding of such spring.

A Watch embodying the invention is provided with a weighted pendulumwhich is caused to oscillate by movement imparted to the watch, usuallywhile being worn. A ratchet wheel or the like is geared to the windingtrain of the watch and the pendulum is provided with a pawl by means ofwhich unidirectional rotation is imparted to the ratchet wheel uponoscillation of the pendulum. The pawl is mounted on the pendulum in sucha manner as to be capable of linear movement relatively thereto andresilient means are provided tending to maintain the pawl in enga ementwith the teeth of the ratchet wheel.

en the resistance of the main spring to winding exceeds the tension ofthe resilient means acting on the pawl the pendulum will swing withoutmovement of the pawl, the aforementioned resilient means yielding topermit such action. Overwinding of the watch is thus prevented.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following specification and accompanying drawing,wherein:

Fig. 1 is a rear view of a watch embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view somewhat enlarged of the pendulum, ratchetwheel and pawl.

Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a modified embodiment of theinvention.

Referring now to Fi 1 to 3, the case 10 may be of any suitable (i signand within it is suitably mounted the watch movement 11. The main springgear wheel 12 is connected through a suitable winding train with aratchet wheel 13, rotation of which in one direction is prevented by apawl 14. A weighted pendulum 15 is pivotally supported co-axlally withthe ratchet wheel 13 and a lever 16 is mounted on the pendulum by meansof a pivotedpin 16. The lever 16 pivotally supports a pawl 17 which isadapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 13 and which is pressedinto operating position by a spring 18. A leaf spring 19 is attached atone end to the pendulum and its other end bears against the lever 16 tomaintain said lever in contact with the pin 20 carried by the pendulum.The pendulum 15 is provided with a series of sockets adapted to receivea in 21 by means of which the tension exerted y the spring 19 on thelever 16 may be varied. Resilient abutments 22 are provided to beengaged by the enlarged portion of the pendulum 15 to cushion thependulum at either end of its stroke.

Counter-clockwise movement of the pendulum 15 causes counter-clockwiserotation of the ratchet wheel 13 which rotation is eflective through thewinding train to wind the main spring. Upon clockwise movement of thependulum the pawl 17 rides over the teeth of the ratchet wheel which isprevented from moving clockwise by the pawl 14. After the watch has beensufficiently wound up, the resistance of the main spring to winding willexceed the tension exerted by the spring 19 on the lever 16. The leverwill then swing on its pivot upon counter-clockwise movement of thependulum and the ratchet wheel 13 will remain stationary, Fig. 2. Thisaction will continue until the main spring has run down' suflicientlythat its resistance to winding no longer exceeds the tension exerted bythe spring 19, whereupon oscillation of the pendulum will again effectrotation of the ratchet wheel 13.

In Fig. 4 the pendulum 15 has mounted thereon, by a pivot pin 16 a lever16' provided with a resilient extension 19 which enga es the surface ofan eccentric adjusting member 21. A pawl 17 is pivoted to the lever 16and is pressed by spring 18 into engagement with the teeth of theratchet wheel 13. The pendulum is provided with a pin 20 against whichthe main portion of the lever 16 is held by reason of the engagement ofthe projection 19 with the ad 'usting member 21. The operation of thisem' odiment is similar to the operation of the embodiment disclosedlever to press the latter into engagement with in Figs. 1 to 3inclusive.

It is of course understood that various modifications may be made in thestructure above described without in any manner departing from thespirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. I11 a self-winding watch, a pendulum, a ratchet wheel, a leverpivoted to said pendulum, a pawl carried by said lever to cooperate withsaid ratchet wheel, and resilient means tending to maintainpredetermined relation between said pawl and pendulum.

2. In a self-winding watch, a pendulum, a ratchet wheel, a lever pivotedto said pendulum, a pawl carried by said lever to cooperate with saidratchet wheel, resilient means tending to maintain predeterminedrelation between said pawl and pendulum, and means for varying thetension of said resilient means.

3. In a self-winding watch, a pendulum, a ratchet wheel, a leverpivotally supported by said pendulum, a pawl carried by said lever andbeing adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet wheel, a stop carriedby said pendulum, and a resilient member tending to maintain said leverin contact with said stop.

4. In a-self-winding watch, a pendulum, a ratchet wheel, 'a leverpivotally supported by said pendulum, a pawl carried by said lever andbeing adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet wheel, a stop carriedby said pendulum, a resilient member tending to maintain said lever incontact with said stop, and an adjustable member for varying the tensionof said resilient member.

5. In a. self-winding watch, a pendulum, a ratchet wheel, a pawlsupported by said pendulum for linear movement relative thereto, a leafspring attached at one end to said pendulum and having its free endtending to maintain predetermined relation between said pawl andpendulum.

6. In a self-winding watch, a pendulum, a ratchet wheel, a pawlsupported by said pendulum for linearmovement relative thereto andadapted to cooperate with said ratchet wheel, a leaf spring attached atone end to said pendulum and having its free end tending to maintainpredetermined relation between the pawl and pendulum, and a row ofrecesses in said pendulum adapted to receive a pin to be engaged by saidspring whereby the tension thereof is varied.

7. In a self-winding watch, a pendulum, a ratchet wheel, a leverpivotally supported by said pendulum, a pawl pivoted to said lever,resilient means tending to maintain said pawl in engagement with theteeth of said ratchet wheel, a stop carried by said pendulum, a leafspring attached at one end to said pendulum Y and having its free endbearing against said said step.

8. In a self-winding watch, a pendulum, a ratchet wheel, a leverpivotally supported by said pendulum, a pawl pivoted to said lever,resilient means tending to maintain said pawl in engagement with theteeth of said ratchet wheel, a stop carried by said pendulum, a leafspring attached at one end to said pendulum and having its free endbearing against said lever to press the latter into engagement with saidstop, and a row of apertures in said pendulum to receive a pin to beengaged by said leaf spring whereby the tension thereof may be varied.

9. A winding mechanism comprising an oscillatable member, a ratchetwheel, a pawl mounted on said oscillatable member for bodily movementrelative thereto and being adapted to cooperate with said ratchet wheel,positive means for limiting movement of the pawl in one directionrelative to said oscillatable member, and resilient means tending tooppose movement of the pawl relative to the oscillatable member in theopposite direction.

10. Winding mechanism comprising an oscillatable member, a ratchetwheel, a pawl mounted on said oscillatable member for bodily movementrelative thereto and being adapted to cooperate with said ratchet wheel,posltive means to limit movement of the pawl in one direction relativeto said oscillatable member and resilient means co-operating with saidpositive means normally to hold said pawl in position of rest relativeto said oscillatable member.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

MAX REINER.

